Unbreakable Social Rights (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt)

*This blog post theme is on Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt... prepare yourself for a lot of gifs, and a lot of gifs= long blog post*

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that the Declaration of Independence, although written with the best intentions, comes with the implication that the "certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" aren't always applicable to women, Native Americans, African Americans, and other minorities (Jefferson 120).  These implications, although originated from a document written 240 years ago, are the catalyst for the social injustices and prejudice still present today.

Although women have taken many strides towards equality--from suffrage to Roe v. Wade--we're still not there yet.  Even worse, efforts to reach equality are looked down upon by all too many, the same people (including celebrities) who often use the media to talk down feminism, causing misconceptions about what the term means to form.

Let's get something straight: feminism is NOT just an outlet for shrill and whiny women to complain for more power.  On the contrary, it's to create an equality between genders.  After all, isn't that what democracy is all about, the notion that everyone is created equal?  If that's the case, then please explain to me why a mom can't be a working mom.  Please explain to me why that working mom can't make as much as a man.  Please explain to me why instead of teaching young males not to objectify their female counterparts, girls are taught that showing too much shoulder means being a "slut".  Please explain to me why rape victims are berated with degrading questions--"What were you wearing? How much alcohol had you consumed? Did you do anything to provoke it?", while the Brock Turners of the world walk free after only three short months.  Please explain to my clueless, female brain how those delineate an equal society...but make sure to speak slowly, I wouldn't want to get confused.

It's no secret that the journey for equality for African Americans hasn't been an easy one, either. They've endured slavery, segregation, civil rights, and now, prejudice.  More and more, news outlets will break the newest story about some police officer shooting and killing an unarmed black man. These saddening stories always follow the same pattern: the police officer in question will be placed on leave, the station will issue a statement claiming that the victim was carrying what looked like a gun, no such weapon will be found on the victim, and no real change is initiated.  Sure, you and I will hear about these stories on the 7 o'clock news and  tweet an emotional #blacklivesmatter...but then what?  Often times, we will forget about it and move on with our lives.  It's easy to distance ourselves from these tragedies; after all, we do live in sheltered communities of Troy, far away from the cities of Ferguson, Tulsa, and Charlotte...right?  Well, although there may not have been any violent outbreaks, prejudice is still alive in many other forms--so alive, in fact, that we have become desensitized to it.  So the next time you hear a racial slur or anti-color comment, don't just dismiss it; we are FAR too distant from total equality to give up and forget about it now.

I am aware that the majority of police officers don't act with this level of

 prejudice, instead risking their lives to protect us every day. I'm just 

feeling a little cynical at the moment. 

Similarly, the Native Americans have been exploited and taken advantage of ever since the first settlers came.  In a way, they are still seen as less than a citizen; for hundreds of years, their land has been taken from them without compensation, although if another citizen's land had to be taken by the government for a project (for instance, to build a pipeline), the citizen would be compensated for property's market value.  What message are we sending to Native Americans if we don't give them the same treatment? That they are less than a citizen, less than a person?  We should be gracious and respectful to Native Americans, as the land we live on was originally theirs, not the other way around.  Instead, Native American culture is exploited and trampled over on a daily basis; sports teams like the "Redskins" or the "Indians" continue to maintain their brand, ignoring the fact that their names are seen as disrespectful, and those who don't assimilate to American culture are seen as stuck-in-their-ways.  But why? If our culture is really the greatest of them all, how can we expect to be seen as such by oppressing those who disagree? Seems a little illogical to me, but then again, our whole country was built on one logical fallacy after another...

Jackie-Lynn "Jacqueline", a rich socialite portrayed as only

gaining her status after abandoning her Native-American roots

Of course I can't say that I've experienced all of these injustices (in fact, some of my most traumatic experiences pale in comparison to those mentioned earlier in this post), but being a part of a minority in this country does come with some downfalls.  I notice everything, from the exasperated eye-rolls as people look into my mom's car to see that the clueless driver is *obviously* Asian to the fact that virtually no Asian-Americans are present in the Hollywood, even in roles traditionally written for those of Asian descent.  

But why is it so easy to let the majority crush the minority under their stereotypes and expectations?  After all, minorities apart make up the majority together.  I'm not saying that minorities should start a revolution to overthrow the so-called majority or anything, but maybe one day, we can take down these social barriers and finally create a society in which every man, woman, and child (of every race) is truly created equal.   

(I PROMISE THAT I'M NOT AS CYNICAL AS THIS BLOG POST MAKES ME OUT TO BE)

                                                   

That Memorials Post (That 70's show)

Virtually everyone has learned and/or been to a memorial before.  There are ones that commemorate Lincoln,  9/11, Martin Luther King, Vietnam... the list goes on.  Yet every day, memorials of our own are constructed, commemorating prominent events, memories, and people relevant to our own lives (not to say that these traditional memorials aren't relevant, but a war that took place in the '70s isn't exactly a topic that arises on a daily basis), and we fail to recognize them as such.

Although there *are* some parts of the 70s that relate more to day-to-day life.....

(I am aware that this show is from the 90s but I'm trying to make a segue 

into my blog theme here so give me some kudos for that at least)

Every once in a while, we tend to realize that life is passing us by faster than we expect it to, and to adapt, our minds subconsciously hold on to the parts of life that have passed us by all too quickly. We create memorials around the most insignificant mementos-- and make them significant.

life is short, appreciate it while it lasts!! 

That ratty old stuffed bear reminds you of simpler times; that park bench you used to sit on with your family reminds you of your grandfather's endless wisdom that has since faded; that homemade friendship bracelet reminds you of when your trust was truly untainted.  Why do we hold on to all of these memories, good or bad?  Perhaps because we don't realize how much we really should appreciate these moments until they are gone; perhaps "absence is rendered in a way that constitutes a gigantic presence" within our lives, a presence that is made tangible through the makings of these memorials (Booth 36).  This oxymoron is why absence is so commonly incorporated into traditional memorials, because only in the presence of absence can we begin to comprehend the losses faced .  In a way, the memorials we create commemorate our lives as a whole; they serve as a reminder of everything that is gone, but also push us to look forward to everything that has yet to come. 

Just some Red Foreman to lighten the quite morbid note I ended on about dying and loss

How I... Introduce You to My Blog

Kids, did I ever tell you the story of what my blog is all about?

No, I will not be using this blog simply to post about TV shows and movies on Netflix... although that does seem like an enjoyable pastime (probably not the best way to go about spending my time during junior year, with all its AP-and-standardized-testing glory, though).  Rather, I welcome you to my blog, a platform to present my thoughts on societal issues and other topics discussed in AP English... in a form similar to some of my favorite Netflix shows.

Needless to say, if you understand any of the references I make in this blog, we pretty much have an unbreakable bond.  Hopefully this page will bring some much-needed comic relief into your lives.  Happy reading and I hope that I haven't evoked any Netflix addictions (oops)!